Don Robbs, the longtime voice of the University of Hawai‘i baseball team, died on Thursday morning. He was 88.
Scott Robbs, Don's son, announced the news on his personal Facebook account.
"It is with a heavy heart and sadness that I have to report the passing of my father, Don Robbs. My dad passed early this morning in home hospice, 3 days after his 88th birthday," Scott Robbs' post read. "My dad loved his family and baseball, especially UH and Japanese baseball and of course, the SF Giants. In his final act of kindness, he has donated his body to the John A. Burns School of Medicine for research. I'd like to thank Bristol Hospice for all their support as we navigated home hospice. I'm gonna miss my dad immensely, but feel so lucky and blessed I had him for 58 years."
Don Robbs called over 2,000 sporting contests during a career that spanned six decades. Born in Minnesota in 1937, Don Robbs served in the U.S. Army before moving to the islands in the 1960s, making his mark on multiple local radio and television stations.
As an announcer for KHVH in the 1970s, Don Robbs served as the play-by-play announcer for the UH women's volleyball team when the Rainbow Wahine's matches were broadcast statewide for the first time. He also became the play-by-play radio voice for the University of Hawai‘i baseball team, a role he held through the 2016 season. Robbs called all 13 of UH's NCAA Tournament runs, including the program's lone appearance in the College World Series in 1980.
Robbs, who emceed various UH athletic events, including the UH Sports Circle of Honor induction ceremonies, was inducted into the Circle of Honor himself in 2015.
In 2024, the press box at Les Murakami Stadium was renamed the Robbs Leahey Press Box in honor of Don Robbs and late television broadcaster Jim Leahey. Scott Robbs, who currently calls multiple UH sports in roles for ESPN Honolulu and Spectrum Sports, was there to assist his father during the induction ceremony on March 28, 2024.
Christian Shimabuku can be reached at christian@alohastatedaily.com.
